Mountainsmith

As of yesterday, I have officially bought my backpack, the backpack I will be using for this trip. Thanks to my mom and dad who found this great Mountainsmith offer at the Changi Airport. Only for a limited time, this backpack (originally meant for mountaineering) is found at World of Sports: Outdoors. The original price was well over $300 but I had it for only $170 or so. There was a 30% discount plus another 5% for members (my dad is one) and if I bought it at the airport there would have been an additional 7%. 42%? Insane!

More about it as I update! How do you like this iPhone application I'm using for this entry? ;)



There were two colors, blue and green. I tried the green, but finally decided on the blue. It being a mountaineering backpack, it has a lot of straps and buckles, and significantly on the front of the bag. Usually, I don't see that much but this one has them because they were made to hold mountaineering tools like ice breakers and things like that! I'm not too sure. All I know is that it is doable. It is affordable, a good steal, and it can pack all my things below 10kg! I find it incredible.

Last night, when I went home, I immediately started to pull out my winter coats, scarves, berets, long-sleeved shirts, leggings, socks, books, and undergarments and packed them. I even put 3kg worth of dumb bells for extra weight, to include my shoes and slippers and toiletries. It was barely 10kg! I was ecstatic. At first, when I used my hands to lift it, I was astounded by the weight but when I put it on, strapped myself, tightened up, and mustered as much strength and confidence I could, I realized it wasn't so bad after all! It was like I was one with my Mountainsmith backpack. It was like magic.

My Mountainsmith backpack is made mostly out of ReDura, or recycled plastic bottles crushed into powder, miraculously spun into thread and voilà, my backpack! I like it's width and thickness even though I originally pictured myself with something longer and leaner. It's all good, seeing how I particularly


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Air Asia X

Yesterday, I booked my flight to London Stansted. I've decided not to go over my sister's birthday on August 8th like mentioned before. I still can change my flight date, so I'll decide as it comes. It will definitely be in August. I'm so excited. :)

 

I am very contented with the smooth online booking of Air Asia and I'm proud to say I've taken it before to Bangkok, Thailand. My flight to Macau during the winter was with Tiger Airways, and that's another story. For one-way, KUL-STN costs merely S$273.50! I accidentally included the convenience fee of 5MYR, which is a bus pass but I doubt I'll need it in KL since I'll be with my family and we'd all cab down to the LCCT (Low-cost Carrier Terminal, Kuala Lumpur).

I'm very glad I checked Air Asia at the right time and discovered the 1-14 February Great British Sale where I got my ticket for almost half the usual price! Unfortunately for me, I can only book a one-way, to London, instead of a return because the latest return is in October and I'm returning in January. When the date gets closer, probably end of July, I'll buy my return ticket from STN-KUL-SIN so that I have proof that I'm not going to illegally immigrate. I don't want to arrive at the airport and find myself being deported back to my country. And there goes my great backpacking trip!

I have read reviews on this long haul flight and the number one concern/complaint is the lack of entertainment. I have decided to bring my iPod with 5450 songs and counting, as well as movies and videos to watch. Also, I'll be having my iPhone. I might not be able to roam but I'll make sure I'll have games to play, guides to read, and languages to learn!

What's more, I'll be bringing a journal to write in! :)

I'll have to bring:

• sleeping eye mask
• iPod
• iPhone
• journal
• solid food (Air Asia allows this)

That's all, folks! I'll update soon when more is done for this trip. Six months till the big trip!